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Reuters
NEW YORK
Oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Friday as US sanctions against Iran looked set to tighten supply, but futures remained lower for the week as investors worried that global trade disputes could slow economic growth and hurt demand for energy.
Benchmark Brent crude oil was up $1 at $73.07 a barrel by 10:52 EDT (1452 GMT). US light crude was 92 cents higher at $67.73 a barrel.
Brent remained on course to fall 0.3 percent in the week, while US crude was on track to fall 1.1 percent, following a sell-off on Wednesday.
"It's not surprising to see a bit of a bounce back here," said Tariq Zahir. But he said prices would remain under pressure as US gasoline demand slows going into the fall and refiners shut for maintenance, pushing more crude into storage.
"I think it now comes down to the point of what we see in demand numbers."
Escalating trade disputes have dimmed the outlook for economic growth and boosted the dollar, making oil more expensive for consumers using other currencies.
Major emerging economies including China, India and Turkey have seen their currencies slump.
Despite these worries, prices got a boost from the introduction of US sanctions against Iran, which from November will include oil exports. Although the European Union, China and India oppose sanctions, many are expected to bow to US pressure.
Analysts expect Iranian crude exports to fall by between 500,000 and 1.3 million barrels per day, with buyers in Japan, South Korea and India already dialing back orders.
The reduction will depend on whether buyers of Iranian oil receive waivers that would allow some imports.
The International Energy Agency said on Friday the oil market could see more turbulence later this year.
"The recent cooling down of the market, with short-term supply tensions easing, currently lower prices, and lower demand growth might not last," the IEA said in a monthly report.
"As oil sanctions against Iran take effect, perhaps in combination with production problems elsewhere, maintaining global supply might be very challenging."
Investors are keeping a wary eye on the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. In the latest round of levies, China said it would impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of US imports.
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11/08/2018
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